A golden moment

Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the umbrella body of Muslims in the North, is 50. It celebrated the golden jubilee at Lugard Hall, Kaduna in grand style, writes TONY AKOWE.

At 50, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), the umbrella body of Muslims in the North, has come a long way. Its 50th anniversary was marked with fanfare on April 13 at the Lugard Hall in Kaduna. Dignitaries came from far and wide for the celebration.

Meaning “Society for the support of Islam”, the JNI has been involved in several activities since it was established and its voice heard on national and international issues.

Founded by the revered Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of the defunct Northern Region, the late sir Ahmadu Bello, the JNI with the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has been propagating Islam. It was founded on January 5, 1961, but was formally inaugurated in 1963. Its golden jubilee celebration attracted among others Vice President Namadi Sambo and House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

The ceremony featured a special lecture titled: Nigerian Muslims and the JNI: Strength, Achievements, Prospects and Challenges by the former Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Prof Shehu Ahmad Sa’ad Galadanci.

Noting some of the challenges facing Muslims, Galadanci said JNI should merge with NSCIA and Muslims Ummah of South Western Nigeria (MUSWEN) to form a body that would be a rallying point of all Nigerian Muslims.

In his address, JNI President-General and Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, said the organisation went for a lecture to know its challenges and prospects. He described JNI as a reputable organisation.

“It is, indeed, appropriate for us to commend JNI as it has become the umbrella that brings all Muslims together on occasions like this. Muslims are united in Nigeria and will continue to be united, Insha Allah. And for those who think the only problem of Nigerian Muslims is unity, today we have proved them wrong because we are united,” the Sultan said.

JNI, he said, would continue to say the truth when things go wrong as it stands for the unity.

Alhaji Abubakar, who chaired the occasion, said Islam and Christianity should not be seen as an accident of history but God’s design which cannot be changed by anyone.

According to him, insecurity is the major problem confronting muslims and christians in the country.

“Every day, he said, hundreds of lives are being lost, particularly in the Northeast. We are worried about the number of Christians, Muslims, Fulanis and innocent people that are killed every time and, therefore, we condemn such cruel acts. I urge Christians to partner with Muslims to find a solution to the security challenges facing the country. We are not out to fight for religion or fight anybody, we are out to practise our religion as we are taught by the Qur’an and the Hadith. As Muslims, we should engage in good conduct that will bring non-Muslims closer to us in order to foster mutual understanding and, thus, mutual love.

“Please, let Christians understand that nobody can Islamise Nigeria. There are no plans by Muslims to convert non-Muslims to Islam just as nobody can Christianise Muslims or the country as a whole. So, why are we fighting? Let us live together as God has created us to be Muslims and Christians. We should go about our religion peacefully and let God judge who is right and who is wrong. I encourage non-Muslims to bear with us because we are not out to challenge anybody.”

Sambo urged JNI to continue to be steadfast in its obligations by promoting unity, oneness, brotherhood and inter-religious harmony among Nigerians.

He paid tributes to Sir Ahamdu Bello for conceptualising the organisation.

“We must not forget to honour the founding fathers of this organisation, most of whom are not here with us today. The late Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, deserves honour today for his great wisdom and deep foresight in bringing to existence this great body that would promote the deep moral teachings of Islam and protect the interest of the Muslim Ummah.

“The late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi, the erstwhile Grand Khadi of Northern Nigeria, must be remembered for his role in sustaining the great legacy bequeathed to us up till the time of his death. May Allah reward their good deeds with Aljannat Firdausi,” he said.

Kaduna State Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero said JNI should begin to identify ways of engaging in inter-faith dialogue, especially with Christian organisations across the country. The governor said the objective of such interaction is to devise means of promoting peaceful co-existence in the country. Yero argued that without peace and stability, there can be no meaningful development, adding that the country will economically stagnate while majority of the people, irrespective of faith, would wallow in abject poverty.

He said: “It is, therefore, a collective responsibility, especially on the part of the JNI and similar bodies in the country, to galvanise the people towards achieving lasting peace and security. At this historic stage, I wish to urge JNI, especially as we enter the golden age of its formation, to begin to take necessary steps in addressing internal misunderstandings within the religion. It is imperative for Muslims to uphold the bond of faith in sustaining our brotherhood as servants of Allah.”

The event climaxed, with the launch of the JNI golden jubilee almanac by Sambo.